Good news from the Boise Co-Op for all you Stone Brewing loving hop freaks in Boise. 13th Anniversary Ale — an Imperial Red style — is finally available for the reasonable price of $5.99 a 22 ounce bottle.

I don’t know about you guys, but I look forward to the Stone Anniversary beers every year because they are so good. The 11th Anniversary black IPA style was so beloved it has entered into their regular beer rotation as the Sublimely Self Righteous Ale, which, unfortunately, hasn’t made it to the Boise market. Yet.

But you can get the 13th Anniversary Ale, which I drank last week and loved the crap out of. It’s a hop lovers masterpiece, Stone’s self-described “hoppiest beer ever.”

The folks at Stone say the “13th Anniversary Ale has 4.5 lbs of hops per barrel—more hops per barrel than any beer we’ve ever brewed (Stone 10th Anniversary Ale, revered by many as the quintessential hopped-up Stone Anniversary Ale, had 2.5 lbs of hops per barrel).”

The beer was double dry-hopped (think a giant tea bag full of hops, introduced into the beer wort after the boil, which increases hop aromas and flavor without adding bitterness) with simcoe and centennial hops.

The result is a massive hop aroma and flavor but it is not so bitter that it burns the taste out of your tongue. (Can you guys tell I really like this beer?). It’s strong stuff — 9.5 percent Alcohol by volume.

Stone brewers recommend drinking the 13th Anniversary Ale soon instead of cellaring it.

Stone CEO Greg Koch explains why. "Our Stone Anniversary Ales are often quite suitable for cellaring. However, with all the mighty huge large hop character in the Stone 13th Anniversary Ale, I think I'll be enjoying this one while it's at its freshest."